The draft amended Law on National Defence approved at the National Assembly on June 8, 2018 with 88.3 percent of votes in favour (Photo: quochoi.vn)

 Deputies agreed on the need to promulgate a law on Vietnam’s Coast Guard to enhance defence and security and create a legal foundation for the operation of the Vietnamese coast guard force.

Lawmakers said the wording of the law should fully institutionalize the Party’s policies, guidelines, and regulations on the national maritime strategy by 2020, the strategy for national protection and defense in the new context, especially the strategy on national defense, security, and external relations on the sea. It should also be compatible with international law.

Deputy Pham Dinh Cuc representing Ba Ria-Vung Tau said: “The promulgation of the law is very important because Vietnam accounts for nearly one third of the East Sea. The current situation on the East Sea remains complicated and the law will provide a favorable legal foundation for the Vietnamese coast guard force to operate in line with international law and Vietnam’s Constitution 2013.”

Legislators also approved a resolution on law and ordinance building for 2019 and debated the draft Law on Cultivation.